her to Osborne on a visit to the Queen, proceeded on board the
_Malabar_, where they stayed three-quarters of an hour and made a
thorough inspection of the ship, where they were welcomed with much
enthusiasm. When at length the ship drew away into the stream, followed
by the Royal yacht _Osborne_, the band of the Royal Marines ashore
played "The March of the Men of Harlech," and "Cheer, Boys, Cheer,"
while the troops responded by singing "Auld Lang Syne."

THE ROYAL HOSPITAL FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

_May 24th, 1881._

This Hospital, which is the oldest of its kind in London, is situated in
Waterloo Bridge Road, in a populous and poor district. It contains now
about 50 beds. The number of out-patient attendances averages 3000 a
month, and upwards of 250 visits each month are paid by the
house-surgeon to sick children at their own homes. The ordinary receipts
are about L3000, and the funded property L6500. It is a well-managed and
useful charity, and just such a one as would gain the good will of the
Prince of Wales, who presided at the festival dinner, in Willis's Rooms,
on the Queen's Birthday, May 24th, 1881.

After the customary loyal and patriotic toasts, the Royal Chairman
briefly but earnestly pleaded the cause of the charity. He said that--

The largeness of the gathering on that occasion was evidence of
the interest taken in this great and important charity. During
the last few years, he remarked, we had suffered from both
agricultural and commercial depression, and institutions of a
charitable kind, especially those which owed their existence and
maintenance to voluntary contributions, must naturally feel a
depression, which prevented many persons from coming forward to
their support; but still he did not despair of the results of
the appeal which he had to make that evening. This institution
had now been in existence for seventy-one years. It was situated
in a very populous and very poor district, its object being the
cure of sick children and women. He might remark that many of
his family had taken considerable interest in this hospital. His
grandfather, the Duke of Kent, presided at the first anniversary
dinner, and his great-uncle, the Duke of Sussex, took a deep
interest in it. Only four years ago his sister, the Princess
Louise, visited the institution, and, being much gratified with
what she saw, gave her name to one of t